Debenhams facing uncertain future in Worcester after announcement

THE Worcester city centre store of Debenhams could face an uncertain future after the new boss unveiled plans to review the future of 10 stores nationally.

As part of a turnaround strategy proposals announced by chief executive Sergio Bucher, 10 of the 176 stores nationally are being reviewed, as well as 11 warehouses.

At this stage it is known the locations of the stores that face the axe during the next five years.

The department store chain also has stores elsewhere in Worcestershire, including Redditch and Kidderminster, which now face a similarly uncertain future.

Details of his plans came as the group announced a 6.4 per cent drop in pre-tax profits to £87.8 million for the six months to March 4.

Mr Bucher said: Our customers are changing the way they shop and we are changing too.

“Shopping with Debenhams should be effortless, reliable and fun, whichever channel our customers use. We will be a destination for ‘social shopping’ with mobile the unifying platform for interacting with our customers.”

Mr Bucher added that while none of its stores are unprofitable, those under review have been identified as possibly becoming loss-making in the future.

Debenhams sought to give assurances that the overhaul was “not about job losses”, highlighting the plans to open four shops in the next few years.

The group said it will report back with more details on the proposals in October.

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